Spectacular Palmer Parade

It was the best Winter parade ever! Floats, Santas, horses, fat bikes, dogs, runners, baton twirlers, dinosaurs, whales and musk oxen. And firetrucks, tractors, choirs, choruses, elves, and queens. Ok, it was bitter cold because of the wind. But the brilliant energy and lights warmed it up. Big thanks to all the crowds, participants, organizers of the festivities in Palmer this weekend. And a huge and grateful thanks to the Water Tower lighters.

Let’s Talk about the Whale on Main Street—The life-size Orca Whale was a creation of Palmer’s Alaska Job Corp Center students and staff. The parade float took months of planning; 40 students worked 4 weeks to build the fantastic piece of art. The project was a team-building exercise in addition to a tricky hands-on project involving design, lighting, scaffolding, construction, and stability.

Palmer Cribbage Gets Competitive—The Sunday morning Palmer Cribbage contest appeared to be a lightweight activity at 10:45am. However, by 11:00 AM, the time the contest began, there were 19 contestants at Klondike Mike’s. It was a hard fought challenge but the overall winner is also the winner from last year.

Nativities—Last weekend we saw nearly 1400 nativities at the LDS church and around town. There was a “live” human version, complete with a “live” sheep in front of the Connect Building. There were the beautiful collections from around the world—set up in the various rooms and vestibules at the church. There were the lovely lit nativity displays in the yards. It is a good thing to remember the poor and the cold, who were welcomed with loving hearts. Nativities show human compassion for the weakest in our world. It is a good reminder of caring and sharing. Thank you Palmer for showing the nativities.

Solstice Plans in Palmer—The 21st is the day we begin to collect our light. Instead of continuing to lose daylight hours, we reverse the darkness plunge. And it is a time of celebration, both physically and metaphorically. In Palmer there is a “Here Comes the Sun” yoga celebration at the Midnight Sun Yoga Center. It will include 108 sun salutations at 1015am on Saturday. In addition, there are lots of little winter solstice festivals, usually at private homes—involving bonfires, candles and sparklers. Winter Solstice is really the best of times. The sun wakes very slowly and stretches low in the sky, allowing for more than one sunrise in most locations. The Sun (finally) leisurely peaks around 1230 and then immediately turns around and begins to nap and set simultaneously. Once again there are usually several long, lengthy, consecutive sunsets. It is a special kind of solstice light all day, which is weak gold in color. We are so fortunate to see this phenomena in Palmer; our bonfires and Solstice parties are genuine in our appreciation.

Cookie Week in Palmer—Everywhere you go in Palmer are unexpected plates of cookies. Cookies reign at the shops, in the stores, at the banks, and even at the gas station. A plate of cookies is often found at the post office, for nibbling while you wait in line. Cookies are little Palmer lumps of love and whether you eat them or not, they are a gracious welcome and reminder of this sharing time of year.

Big Week of Palmer

Wednesday Walking Tour of the Farm at the Matanuska Experiment Farm

Thursday is the Office-less Holiday Office Party at the Annex with the Palmer Entrepreneurs

Friday is “Christmas Day on the Farm” at Our Little Farm in Palmer

Saturday is the last Wellness Market of 2019 is at NonEssentials

Saturday is the Bright Lights Book Sale at the Recycling Center

Sunday is the Jolly Book or Jolabokaflod in Palmer on Sunday at Fireside Books

Sunday Evening the 22nd, is the first night of Hanukkah observation. Palmer’s downtown menorah’s candles will be lit — one each day for eight days.

Monday and Tuesday, Dec 23 and 24, is Christmas on the Reindeer Farm from 12-5

There are many, many Christmas day services, gatherings, and programs in Palmer—far too numerous to list. Check the local paper’s religion page for your favorite. There are also a variety of holy day service opportunities to help others. You can be assured something is perfect for you. And for those who don’t participate, we’ll see you at the movies and sushi.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Her “Palmer Buzz Community Calendar” is available at Palmer shops and the Palmer museum. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222